Willcox, AZ-based Eurofresh Farms, a year-round producer and marketer of
greenhouse-grown tomatoes and cucumbers also located in Snowflake, AZ,
has developed and is implementing a benchmark food-safety system to
elevate the protection of its produce.

EnviroLock is a new process that increases the safety of Eurofresh Farms’
products by further controlling the physical entry points in the growing and
packaging areas of its facilities and works in tandem with the company’s
existing controlled greenhouse environment.

EnviroLock facilities have been installed at several sites at the Willcox facility
and will be fully implemented throughout all company greenhouses by early
2011.

"We’re setting a new industry standard for food safety with our EnviroLock
system," Johan van den Berg, chief executive officer and founder of Eurofresh
Farms, said in an Oct. 15 press release. “By taking extra safety measures, we
are further preventing pathogens from entering the facilities and are ensuring
that our customers and consumers receive the highest-quality, and best-
tasting produce possible.”

Mr. Van den Berg noted in the release that even though Eurofresh Farms has
never been affected by instances of foodborne illness or disease, the
company developed EnviroLock as an additional preventative and
precautionary protocol against such an event.

“It is nearly impossible for bacteria like Salmonella to come in contact with our
produce because of our meticulous greenhouse growing practices,” he said in
the release. “However, we are setting a higher standard for food safety here at
Eurofresh Farms.”

With the EnviroLock system, anyone entering the greenhouse facilities must
pass through a sanitation facility, where they must first wash and disinfect
their hands and forearms, then change into sanitized, hospital-style scrubs
and shoes. These uniforms are color-coded to indicate the specific section of
the greenhouse in which they will be working. Hairnets and sterile gloves are
also worn before entering the growing areas.

“Our operations team decided to color-code the EnviroLock uniforms to help
eliminate any potential for cross-contamination,” Craig Boudle, senior
manager of environmental safety and risk management for Eurofresh Farms,
added in the release. “The color-coding system allows supervisors to visually
identify who should be in specific areas as well as promote an understanding
among employees of the company’s safety procedures.”